Folding or collapsible deck chairs



Dec. 6, 1955 K. MEYER ET AL FOLDING OR COLLAPSIBLE DECK CHAIRS Filed July 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Imriurafs;

Dec. 6, 1955 K. MEYER ET AL FOLDING OR COLLAPSIBLE DECK CHAIRS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1954 l l l 4 l I I United States Patent FOLDING OR COLLAPSIBLE DECK CHAIRS Konrad Meyer and Hans Pfister, Zurich, Switzerland Application July 1, 1954, Serial No. 440,714 5 Claims. c1. 15s-140) The present invention relates to improvements in folding or collapsible chairs of the kind commonly known as deck chairs. It is an object of the present invention to provide means contributing to an improved deck chair structure which is suitable for use on beaches and in open spaces, and which can be readily and simply folded into an extremely compact form so as to take up very little s ace.

It is another object of the invention to provide means facilitating convenient transportation of said chair in vehicles such as, for example, motor cars.

Hitherto, folding or collapsible deck chairs have been capable of being folded only to a limited degree, such as to a relatively flat form having a width equal to the normal width of the chair, or they have to be dismantled into several parts it it is desired that they be converted into a package in the form of a compact bundle.

The deck chair according to the present invention comprises only two portions, which-are separable one from the other to fold the chair, viz., a seat portion preferably of fabric sheet or like material having transverse members secured to each end, and a carrying frame portion proper. Both said portions can be reduced to a compact form, by rolling up and folding operations, respectively, and when the portions are so rolled and folded may be of complementary shape so that together they may occupy a minimum of space and become a single compact package.

According to the invention the foldability or collapsibility of the carrying frame portion is achieved by providing said frame with crossed and pivoted lever members at each side of the chair somewhat in the form of lazy or Nuremberg tongs, the crossed lever members at opposite sides of the chair being interconnected adjacent the front and rear of the deck chair in a pivoted or articulatedmanner by respective further sets of crossed and pivoted lever members extending transversely of the chair, so that the sides of the frame and the interconnecting crossed lever members form a system of lazy tongs closed or endless in itself and collapsible to an elongated package or bundle.

Two back-rest side members may be, respectively, pivoted to the upper rearward ends of the crossed and pivoted lever members at each side of the chair, said back-rest side members being connected bypivoted stayvrnembers to the lower rearward ends of the crossed side lever members. The stay members may be provided with pivoted locking members which can engage the pivotal connections of the back-rest side members to the side crossed lever members so as to secure the back-rest in an operative position.

It is of advantage to provide. each of the upper and free ends of the back-rest side members and each of the two upper front ends of the side crossed lever members with a slot for receiving the respective ends of transverse members which are secured to opposite ends of a fabric sheet, forming a seat portion of the chair, and to provide means, such as safety bow members, for securing the said transverse members in the slots.

In order that the invention stood, reference will now be chair made in accordance with the principle of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the deck invention and ready for use.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the deck chair, with the fabric seat portion removed and with safety, members open.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the chair ready for use.

Figs. 4 and 5 are front and side views, respectively, of the carrying frame portion of the deck chair in a folded or collapsed condition, and

Fig. 6 shows an intermediate condition of the deck chair in transition from the folded condition shown in Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 1, when making the chair ready for use.

Fig. 7 shows the seat portion and fabric sheet rolled up.

The carrying frame portion proper of the collapsible deck chair shown in the drawings has, at each side, two members 1 and 2, which are connected and pivoted about a pivot pin 3, the members 1 and 2, at opposite sides of the chair, being in the form of crossed levers.

The arms of the two pairs of pivoted and crossed lever members 1 and 2,'at opposite sides nected, adjacent respective ends, to ticulated manner by two further pairs of pivoted and crossed end lever members 4, 5, the ends of such latter crossed members being hinged on coupling members 6 which are pivotally connected, about pivots 7, to the respective members 1 and 2, the pivots 7 being equidistant from the pivot pin 3.

The pivotal connection of bers 1 and 2 with the pairs 4 forms a united endless or Nuremberg chair can be folded together to an elongated and compact package as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Two back-rest side members 9 are respectively con nected by means of pivots 8 to the chair embodying the the side crossed'lever memand 5 of end crossed levers and collapsible system of pivots 11 (upon and intermediate the length of members 9) and pivots 12 adjacent the lower ends of downwardly and rearwardly the'members 1. Thus, the back-rest side members 9 are pivotally'connected to the lateral crossed lever members 1 and 2 in an articulated manner.

The distance of each pivot 11 from the neighboring pivot 8 should be such that said distance added to the length of the stay member 10 is substantially equal to the sum of the effective lengths of the two rearwardly extending arms of the crossed lever members 1 and 2, i. e., the two distances of the pivots 8 and 12, respectively, from the pivot'pin '3. Thus, when the frame portion is folded or collapsed to form a the back-rest side members 9 will lie longitudinally of, and close to the other components or members in said bundle orv package, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Means are provided to retain the framere1atively-rigid When the chair is in an operative position as shown in Figure 1; thus, two retaining strip members 14, at opposite sides of the frame, are pivoted to the stays 10 about pivots 13, each ofsaid strip members having a recessor slot 15 (see Figure 6) for engagement with a stud or projection extending outwardly from each of the pivots 8. Although only one slot is shown in the drawings, the strip members 14 may have a plurality of successive will be more readily under made to the accompanying j drawings which show a typical embodiment of a deck of the chair are conextending arms of.

relatively compact bundle slots at spaced intervals, whereby the operative angle of inclination of the side members 9 may be adjusted or varied as desired.

To foldthe frame from, the operative, position shown in Figure 1, the strip, members 114, are; released frorn engagement with the studs, of the pivots. 8 and the side, members 9 are. swung downwardly. (as. indicated. by. the. arrow in Figure 1) such movement causing the system of lazy tongs (viz. crossed lever members 1 and 2,, 4 and 5) to contract inwardly and assume the compact bundle previously referred to and shown. in Figures 4 and 5.

Conversely, to prepare the frame of the chair for use, from its folded and; compact form as shown in, Figures 4- and 5, the members 9 are moved outwardly and. upwardly, causing the frame, and the endless, system of lazy tongs, to be extendedandmoved from the position shown: in Figure 5; via the intermediate position and in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 6, into. the operative position, shown in Figure 1, the frame being then secured in this position by engagement of the retainingstrip members 14' with said, studs of pivots 8.

The seat portion of the chair comprises a fabric sheet 16 having a relatively rigid transverse member 17 at each end thereof. The outer and free ends of'the backrest side members 9 and the. upper or forward ends of the members 1' of the frame are each provided with slots 18" forreceiving and accommodating the remote and projecting ends of respective transverse members 17. The projecting ends of the transverse members 17 may be provided on opposite sides with grooves or channels to form a tongue 19 of a thickness complementary to the width of the slots 18, whereby the tongues and the transversemembers 17 may be firmly positioned in the respective slots 18 and secured against sidewise or axial displacementtherein.

To secure the transverse members 17 forming transverse stiifening means against unintended or inadvertent displacement from the slots 18, bow or buckle members, 21 are pivoted adjacent the outer and free ends of the back -rest side members 9 and the upper or forward ends of the members 1 by means of pivot pins 20, the bow, members being adapted to retain the transverse members 17 positioned in respective slots.

When it is desired to fold, or collapse the deck chair from its operative position, the bow members 21 are turned about their respective, pivots, and the fabric sheet 16 with the transverse members 17 is removed, from the, frame. The fabric sheet 16 may then be rolled, up on, one orboth of the transverse. members 17 so as to; form aroll, as shown in Figure 7. The frame portionis then folded together to a compact bundle, as hereinbefore described, andthe rolled seat portion may be laid. along one side of said bundle, and the two portions secured together by a. strap.

To prepare the deck chair ready for use, the. frame portion is unfolded and; extended as hereinbefore described, and secured in operative position by engagement of, the strip members: 14. The seat portion and fabric;

sheet16 may thenbe unrolled and mounted: by inserting the. tongues, of the transverse members 17 in the slots 18' of the carrying frame, whereupon, the said transversemembers may be secured in position by the safety bow members 21,.

Alternatively to the provision of how members 21, other means may be utilised to retain the transverse members inposition, thus the lower side, of each slot 18 at the upper, and forward ends of the members may have a, step or like formation therein adapted to engage the tongue at the end of the corresponding transverse member, to retain the latter in position and prevent it from bei g inadvertently dislodged from the slot; and, ratherh n; having. lots. 1. h out r: nds f. the. members 9; may ea h.be provid dlwi haipinrornegtrnember extending longitudinally= the extremity thereof; which pins are.

adapted to engage within complementary spaced holes in the relative transverse member 17, to retain the latter in operative position.

The individual parts of the framework of the chair may be made from any suitable material such as wood, metal, or plastics, either alone or in combination.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious, changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. Improvements in folding or collapsible deck chairs comprising a frame portion having at each side thereof a set of crossed lever members pivoted to each other and having arms interconnected adjacent the front and rear ends of the chair in an articulated manner by a further set of end, crossed lever members, pivoted to. each other and extending transversely of said' first-mentioned set of lever members, the four interconnected sets. of crossed. lever members forming an endless and collapsible system of lazy tongs, whereby said frame portion maybe collapsed to. a folded state toconstitute a. relatively compact. form, two back-rest side members, respectively, pivoted. adjacent the upper and rearward ends of said armsof, said first-mentioned set of crossed lever members-ateach side of said frame portion, a stay member pivoted; to. each back-rest side member, the remote end of each stay member being pivotally connected to the respectivelower and, rearward arms of said side. cross members, andmeans toretain the frame portion extended and relatively rigid when said frame portion is in an unfolded state, the con.- nection of each stay member to its respective; side member being such that the distance between a pivot connecting the stay member to its corresponding side. member and the pivot, of said stay; member tothe respective; arm. of the first-mentioned set of crossed side lever members.- at the side of the chair and the effective length of the.

stay member between pivots at opposite endsthereof, is.

substantially equal to the sum of the effective. lengths of: the two rearwardly extending arms. of the. crossed. side, lever members at that side of the chair, whereby when the frame portion is folded to constitute a relativelycom pact form the side memberswill lie substantially longitudinally thereof and flush therewith,

2. Improvements according to claim 1 including, re.- taining strip members, one end of each of whichbeing. pivotally connected to one, of, the stay members intermediate the length of the latter, the remote end, of each' strip member being adapted to. engage with a projection disposed at an arm of the crossed side lever. member-s at the relative side of the chair.

3. Improvements according to, claim 1, including a: stripof flexiblemateriah, relatively rigid transversemernhers secured at, each end thereof, the: lateral, ends; of said transverse members. projecting beyond, said strip of material, the transverse members at opposite; ends of the strip being adapted to, respectively, interconnect and to be; attached to outerand free ends of said backrest: side members and forward ends of said arms of the crossed side lever members at each side: of the" chair.

4. Improvements accordingtoclaim 1, wherein outer and free ends of the back-rest side members and forward ends of arms of the crossed side lever members at each side of the chair are provided with means for removably retaining the ends of transverse members between which a sheet of material forming a seat portion extends.

5. Improvements according to claim 4, whereinsaid ends of said back-rest side members are each provided. with, a. slot for receiving a complementary; tongue por. tion, at: the; respective lateral ends. of said transverse members, and buckle means pivoted adjacent,v the re.

spective ends of said back-rest side members and adapted 244,360 to close said slots to thereby retain the lateral ends of 623,814 the said transverse members therein. 2,644,590

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1160 204,543 Davis June 4, 1878 6 Griffith July 12, 1881 Olds Apr. 25, 1899 Baxter July 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1896 

